Allie Burns first appeared as a supporting character in Val McDermid’s Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series but now stars in her own planned five-book series. Each historical mystery in the series takes place a decade later than the previous one. The series begins in 1979 in Glasgow, Scotland, where Allie Burns is a rookie reporter for a daily newspaper.

Readers love how McDermid expertly weaves in the societal and cultural milieu of each time period, vividly evoking the time for them. As the decades progress, Allie Burns gains experience and maturity, offering readers interesting insights into both the evolving periods and the maturing character who handles her crime investigations differently with each successive book.

The third book in the series, 1999, is set to release in autumn 2024 and will feature a serial killer and a crossover character from the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series.